Multicolor rotary printing press



`March l, 1932.- H, M BARBER 1,847,708

MULTICOLOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEYS March 1, 1932;y H. M. BABER 1,847,708

MULTICOLOR. ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed NOV. 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR i M z.. M

ATroRNEYs Patented Mn. i, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT loFFiciz- HowAnn n.BARBER., 'or rAwcA'rUcx, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNon rro c. B. Corman-a soNsconrANY, or wnsrnnm', nnonn ISLAND, A conronATToN or DnLAwAian f'.

HULTCOLOB ROTARY PRINTEN' G PRESS Application nled November 28, 1930.Serial No. 498,700.Y

In many instances where the quality of the paper and the character ofthe forms are such as to permit it, a single web may be printed inmulticolor on one side thereof and then in f one or more colors on theother side thereof, to perfect the same. In other instances where thequality of the paper and the character of the forms are such as will notwarrant .the perfecting of the web, the web may be l0 passed ,throughone printing unit to be printed on one side thereof and then cut intosheets and delivered, and when dry the sheets may be perfected in one ormore colors by `passing them through "a sheet feed printing t8'v unitfor the second printing operation. In

other instances it may be desirable to simultaneously print twodifferent webs on one side only thereof.

. My invention therefore comprises two multicolor printing units whichmay be used either together, to perfect a sin 1e web, or

separately, toprint on one side o two webs, maually operated means beingemployed for connecting and disconnecting the printing units.

My invention also comprises the provision of separate drives for theprintin units and their sheet cutting delivery mec anisms vas well asthe novel arrangement of said delivery mechanisms.

A practical embodiment of my invention i represented in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic side view of a multicolor perfectingprinting press with the two printing units operatively connected, toperfect a single web Fig. 2 representsa top plan `view of the same withthe oifset device removed;

Fig. 3 represents a view similar to Figs-1 with the two printing unitsdisconnected for printing on one side only of two webs; and

Fig.l 4 represents a top plan view of the same with the offset deviceremoved.

The first printing unit of the multicolor rotary web (perfectingprinting press is -shown as adapte y pression cylinder being denoted by1 and its .coacting form cylinders by 2, 3, 4 and 5. iIn this printingunit the form cylinders tre to be perfected is p to print up to fourcolors, the imv shown as arranged around the upper side of theirimpression cylinder.

The second printing unit is shown as adapt- Y ed to print up to fourcolors, the impression cylinder being denoted by 6 and its coactingformcylinders by v7, 8, 9 and 10. In this unit the form cylinders areshown as arra ed around the under side of their impression cylinder.

The sheet cutting delivery mechanism for the first printing unit isshown as including a pair of coacting rotary cutters 11 and 12 and thesheet cutting delivery mechanism for the second printing unit is alsoshown asincluding a pair of coacting rotary cutters 13, 14.

These delivery mechanisms are arranged to deliver the sheets ilat inpiles 15. and 16 respectively, when two webs are being rinted on oneside only and the delivery mec anism for the second printing unit isarranged to. deliver the sheets flat in a single pile 16 only when asingle web is perfected by being passed' through both printing units.v

These delivery mechanisms are arranged at right angles to each other,the delivery mech anism for the rst printing unitbeing located at rightangles to the run of the web through its printing lunit andthe deliverymechanism for the second printingpnit being located parallel to the runof the web, through its printing unit.

The first printin unit may be provided with a web turner 1 for use indirecting its web to the delivery mechanism when such webis notto beperfected by being paed through the second printing unit. This firstprinting unit may also beprovided with a compensating roll 18 aroundwhich the web assed on its way to the second printingunit.

The second printing unit may be provided with an offset-device for usewhen a single web is passedthrough both printin units to be perfectedthereby, saidofset evice being shown as comprising an offset web supplyroll 19 from which the offset web 20 may be passed to and around theimpression cylinder 6 and from thence to the offset web takeup roll 21;.v*

2 i 1,s47,vos

The means for driving the two printing units and their sheet cuttingdeliver kmechanisms is shown as comprislng the ollowing elements Thelongitudinally disposedy drive shaft 22 for the rst printing unit andits delivery mechanism is shown as being driven from an electric motor23`through a belt and pulley driving connection 24. This shaft 22 drivesthe first printing unit through the gear train 25. It also drives thedelivery mechanism for the first printing unit, through the gear train26.

The longitudinallydisposed drive shaft 27 for the second printing unitis shown as being driven from an electric motor 28 through a belt andpulley connection 29. This shaft 27 drives the second printing unitthrough the gear train 30. It also drives the delivery mechanism for thesecond printing unit through the gear tr in 31.

It is to be understood that the several gear trains connecting theshafts with the parts driven thereby may be of any well known orapproved form, suitable for the work intended and, therefore, they willnot be specifically described herein.

These two drive shafts 22 and 27 are shown as arranged in alinement witheach other and they are adapted to be connected and disconnected bymeans of a manually operated clutch 32, it lbeing understood that whenthe shafts are connected they will work together to drive both printingunits and their delivery mechanisms and that when the shafts aredisconnected the motor 23 may be used for driving the first printingunit and its delivlery mechanism and the motor 28 may be used fordriving the second printing unit and its delivery mechanism.

In operation: When a single web is to be rfected, both printing unitsare connected y manipulating the clutch 32, to connect y the driveshafts 22 and 27. The web in this insta-nce will be led from its supplyroll 33 through the first printing unit and around' the compensatingroll 18 and through the second printing unit to the cutters 13 and 14 ofthe second printing unit delivery mechanism where the sheets may be cutfrom the perfected web and delivered on to the pile 16. In this case theoffset web 2O will be used for preventing the freshly printed side ofthe web from offsetting on to the impression cylinder 6 of the secondprinting unit.

When two webs are to be printed on one side only or when only one of theprinting units is to be used, the two units are disconnected bymanipulating the clutch 32 to disconnect the drive shafts 22, 27, thuspermit-- ting each motor to be used for driving its particular printingunit and delivery mechanism. Under this condition the web from the websupply roll 33 is passed through the rst printing unit, to be printed onone side thereof, and from thence back and around the turner 17 to thecutters 11, 12 of the delivery mechanism for the said lirstlprintingunit, thus causing the sheets printe on one side only to be deliveredflat on to the pile 15. The web for the second printing unit is fed fromthe supply roll 34 under the first printing unit to the second printingunit and from thence to the cutters 13, 14 of its delivery mechanism sothat the sheets will be delivered flat, printed on one side only, on tothe pile 16.

From the above description it will be seen that the two printing unitsmay be used together for perfecting a single web; or that the printingunits may be used simultaneously t-o print on one side only of two webs;or that either one of the printing units may be used alone to print onone side only of a web.

It is evident that. various changes may be resorted to in theconstruction, form and arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do notintend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown anddescribed, but

What I claim is 1. In a multicolor rota printing press, twolongitudinally alineldy printing units operable when connected to printon both sidesof one web without changing its longitudinal travel andwhen disconnected t0 print on one side only of two webs, and means forconnecting and disconnecting said units.

2. In a multicolor rotary printingpress, two longitudinally-alinedprinting units operable when connected to print on both sides of one webwithout changing its longitudi nal travel and when disconnected to printon one side only of two webs, means for connecting and disconnectingsaid units, and means for driving the two printing units.

3. In a multicolor rotary printing press, two longitudinally alinedprinting units operable when connected to print on both sides of one webwithout changing its longitudinal travel and when disconnected to printon one side lonly of otwo webs, means for connecting `and disconnectingsaid units, and a sheet cutting delivery mechanism for each printingunit.

4. In a multicolor rotary printing press, two longitudinally alinedprinting units operable when connected to rint on both sides Y of oneweb without changing its longitudinal travel and when disconnected toprint on one side only of two webs, means for connecting anddisconnectig said units, a sheet cutting delivery mechanism for eachprinting unit, and means for driving the two printing units and theirdelivery mechanisms.

5. In a multicolor rotary `printing press, two longitudinally alinedprintin units, separate drives therefor, and means got connecting anddisconnecting said units whereby they side only of two webs.

6. I n a multicolor rotary printing press, two longitudinally alinedprinting units and their sheet cutting delivery mechanisms arranged atright angles to each other, sep-- arate drives therefor, and means forconnecting and disconnecting said printing units whereby they will, whenconnected, print on both sides of one web without changing'itslongitudinal travel and when disconnected, print on one side only of twowebs.

7. In a multicolor rotary printing press, two longitudinally alinedprinting units operable when connected, to print on both sides I of oneweb without changing its longitudinal travel and when disconnected, toprint on one side only of two webs, and means for driving the twoprinting units comprising two alined longitudinally disposed driveshafts operatively connected to their respective printing units,separate motors for driving said drive shafts, and a manually operatedclutch at the adjacent ends of the drive shafts for connecting anddisconnecting said shafts. A

8. In a multicolor rotary printing press, two longitudinally alinedprinting units and their sheet cutting delivery mechanisms arranged atright angles to each other, said units being operable, when connected,to print on both sides of one web without changing its longitudinaltravel and when disconnected, to print on oneside only of two Webs, andmeans for driving the two printing units and their delivery mechanismscomprising two alined longitudinally disposed drive shafts operativelyconnected to their respective printing units and to their respectivedelivery mechanisms, separate motors for driving said drive shafts, anda manually operated clutch at the adjacent ends of the -drive shaft forconnecting and disconnecting ysaid shafts.

9. In a multicolor rotary printing press, two longitudinally alinedprinting units operable whenconnected to print on both sides of one webwithout changing its longitudinal travel and when disconnected-to printon one sideonly of two webs, sheet cutting delivery mechanisms for saidprinting units, and means for driving said printing units and theirdelivery mechanisms comprising two alined longitudinally disposed driveshafts, a train of gears `connecting each drive shaftwith its printingunit and a train of ears connecting each drive shaft with its dellverymechanism, a 'motor for driving each drive shaft, and a manuallyoperated clutch at the adjacent ends of the drive shafts for connectingand disconnecting said shafts.

10. In a multicolor rotary printing press, two longitudinally alinedprinting units operable when connected to print on both sides of one webwithout changing its longitudinal travel and when disconnected to printon one side only of two webs, means for connecting and disconnectingsaid units, a sheet cutting delivery mechanism for each printing unit'the two delivery mechanisms being dispose at right angles to each other,and a turner for passing a web from the first printing unit to itsdelivery mechanism, when said delivery mechanismis in use, and means fordriving said printing units and their delivery mechanisms. Y

11. In a multicolor rotary printing press, two longitudinally alinedprinting units operable when connected to print on both sides of one webwithout changing its longitudinal travel and when disconnected to printon one side only of two webs, means for connecting and disconnectingsaid units, a sheet cutting delivery mechanlsm for each printing unit,the delivery mechanism for the first printing unit being arranged atright angles to the path of the web through its printing unit andthedelivery mechanism for the second printing unit belng arranged in linewith the path of the web through the second printing unit, and a turnerfor passing a web from the first printing unit to its deliverymechanism, when said delivery mechanism is in use, and means for drivingsaid printing units and their delivery mechanisms.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name this 25th day of November, 1930.

\ HOWARD M. BARBER.

